AFRL certifies Anduril Barracuda-M under weapons open architecture standard

The US Air Force Research Laboratory said on 28 September 2026 that Anduril's Barracuda-M line of autonomous jet-powered cruise missiles meets the Air Force Weapons Open Systems Architecture standard. The verification followed a four-day independent assessment at the laboratory's Munition Open Architecture Test and Evaluation Laboratory.

Fourteen areas of the weapon system were checked, according to the service. They covered guidance and control, navigation and timing, sensors and propulsion, and the data bus that moves information around the weapon. Anduril said the Barracuda is the first weapon system in large-scale production to go through the laboratory's independent WOSA verification process.

The laboratory called the result a step forward for a new approach to weapons development meant to speed up fielding and allow technology to be refreshed. Anduril said it supports its industrial approach of building scalable, low-cost weapons, trading refinement for simplicity.

Both organisations named the same tested capabilities and components. Air Force Materiel Command publicised the certification on social media on 30 September 2026.

The release quoted Brig. Gen. Douglas Wickert, Department of the Air Force technology executive officer and AFRL commander, who said the standard helps new technology be adopted more quickly. A WOSA-compliant version of the weapon is designated Barracuda-500M.